Like West Chester, Delaware will be replacing nearly the entire offensive line. While the Blue Hens only return five starters on offense, two of them are tailback Jr. Andrew Pierce (279 carries, 1,279 yards, 16 TD's, 42 catches, 212 yards in 2011) and wide receiver Sr. Nihja White (50 catches, 673 yards, 4 TD's in 2011). Also similar to the Golden Rams, Delaware will be very experienced on defense as they return nine starters including pre-season first team All-CAA selections middle linebacker Sr. Paul Worrilow and cornerback Jr. Travis Hawkins. Blue Hen kicker Jr. Sean Baner is a returning All-CAA performer who was perfect on PAT's and was 6 of 9 on field goals 40 yards and beyond.
It appears that the Blue Hens will turn to Bowling Green transfer So. Trent Hurley at quarterback to lead a new up-tempo offense. Hurley is more athletic than previous Blue Hen pocket passers Joe Flacco and Pat Devlin. He has taken the position from last year's starter Sr. Tim Donnelly, who began 2011 as the backup to injured Jr. Trevor Sasek.
In last year's game, Delaware jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and barely had to look back. The Golden Rams were hurt by their usual problems in Newark: the inability to run the ball along with special teams and turnovers which led to poor field position. Behind the passing of both Sean McCartney and Matt Carroll and the receiving of LaRonn Lee and Rondell White , West Chester closed to 21-17 with eleven minutes left in the game. But Pierce ripped a 44-yard touchdown run to dash any hopes of a Golden Ram upset.
Notes - The Blue Hens were chosen by the Colonial Athletic Conference coaches to finish fifth in its league while West Chester was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC East...This year marks the final game in Delaware's longest current active series...Over the previous 53 meetings, the Blue Hens hold a commanding 46-6-1 advantage including the last 18 contests, leading Blue Hens fans to affectionately call this game the annual "Cupcake Bowl"...West Chester shows the series record at 46-6-2, but Delaware did not have a formal team 1943-1945 due to World War II...The two teams tied 6-6 in 1945... West Chester last defeated Delaware in 1992 by a score of 21-20...Delaware opened their training camp on August 4...The Blue Hens are #14 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll...Cornerback Bob Sabol and offensive tackle Adam Citko are transfers from Delaware...The Blue Hens have 10 FBS transfers on its roster
Delaware Athletic Site - Parking Map and Info (pdf)
West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Opens Gridiron Slate Thursday At Delaware
Delaware Athletic Site - Game Day Central: Game #1 - #15 Delaware vs.
West Chester
PSAC Site - Football - Week 1 Notes
Philly Sports Nut - Blue Hens Set to Open 2012 Season
Delaware Online - For Sabol, the last chapter in a complex playbook
Daily Local News - WCU faces Delaware one final time
KYW Newsradio - West Chester Ready For Opener Vs. Delaware
Delaware Online - Early Hens hard to figure
